Go For the Goal

 

Now you’re ready. It’s time to set your goal.

 

First some reminders about setting effective goals.

 

• Don’t be afraid to be specific. Remember we’re tossing the entire idea of failure. That means if you write down specific goals and don’t reach them, you are NOT a failure. You simply know what’s not working and can move forward in finding a schedule that suits you.
  
  On the other hand being specific is like shining a flashlight on your destination in the dark. You know exactly where you’re headed and where you want to end up.
  

• Write your goal down. Seeing it in print will help it become less abstract in your mind. You’re better able to commit to a goal that is written down. In her article Five Steps to Goal Setting, Jennifer Minar gives these statistics: “A … Harvard Business School study found that 3% of the population records their goals in writing. Another 14% have goals but don’t write them down, whereas 83% do not even have clearly defined goals.” Even more interesting, the 3% who wrote down goals earned 10 times that of the 83%.
  

• Remember to keep your goal a manageable size. To do this you must make it measurable. For example, your goal can consist of how many words you’d like to write, or for how many minutes you want to write. Make numbers a part of your goal-setting strategy.
  

• Speaking of numbers, you also want to set a deadline for finishing. For examples: by thus and such a date I want to have ___________ written, or I must submit three manuscripts by ____________, I will take at least one writing course before the end of the year. Goals with such deadlines give you a touchstone throughout the process to see how you're doing and what you might need to do differently to meet your goal. 
  

• Revisit your goal often. Every day if possible. If you post it in a visible spot and leave it there, soon it become as noticeable as the wall paper. Considering that it’s effective to re-write your goal to refresh it in your mind, you might want to write out a new copy from time to time and post in a new highly-visible place. Other ideas to keep your goal visible: 1) slip it in your tickler file in random places so it pops up unexpectedly, 2) have your writing buddy e-mail you reminders, 3) make it a ritual to read your goal before you start your writing practice.

Now it’s time. Set your writing practice appointments for the month. Get out a calendar, write down when you plan to write and for how long. Remember to strive for the same time, same place, and same days if at all possible because routine will help you stay consistent. You can write at other times and for longer, but you want the time you set aside in the upcoming month to become as regular as waking up in the morning.

 

Since we are already have the time set aside on Wednesday afternoon, the workshop now includes 15 minutes of writing time. We’ll still meet at the regular time, and we’ll spend the first 15 minutes catching up with each other. If you arrive at chat after that first fifteen minutes (and that’s better than not coming at all!!), you’ll come in to a lot of quiet because we’ll be “Away From the Keyboard” creating for the next 15 minutes of the workshop hour. Afterward we’ll either talk about questions, comments or concerns that anyone might have, or some short workshop notes.

 

Your Assignment

 

Go get your calendar and set your writing practice appointments.

 

For Fun

 

Go back and write down the first letter from each of these last six essays starting with the first one. (Not the first letter of the title, but the first letter of each essay itself.) There’s a message there for you.

 

©2003Dekat

 

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©2004 Carolyn Dekat
Last Modified: March 1, 2004